Black Hippopotamus formation.
White plays a Geller system with P-K4, P-Q4 and P-QB3.

"Chess is a fairy tale of 1,001 blunders." ― Savielly Tartakower

"The pawns are the soul of chess." ― Francois-Andre Danican Philidor

"A pawn, when separated from his fellows, will seldom or never make a fortune." ― Francois-Andre Danican Philidor

"Remember us,
Should any free soul come across this place,
In all the countless centuries yet to be,
May our voices whisper to you from the ageless stones, Go tell the Spartans, passerby:
That here by Spartan law, we lie."
― Frank Miller, 300

"Chess is a war over the board. The object is to crush the opponent's mind." ― Bobby Fischer

"The soldier is the Army. No army is better than its soldiers. The Soldier is also a citizen. In fact, the highest obligation and privilege of citizenship is that of bearing arms for one's country." ― George S. Patton Jr.

"The most important single ingredient in the formula of success is knowing how to get along with people." ― Theodore Roosevelt, 26th President of the United States, and former U.S. Army Colonel

* Assorted Good games Compiled by rbaglini: Game Collection: assorted Good games

* GK's Scheveningen: Game Collection: Kasparov - The Sicilian Sheveningen

Luke 2:9, 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

"You can only get good at chess if you love the game." ― Bobby Fischer

"Be active. I do things my way, like skiing when I'm 100. Nobody else does that even if they have energy. And I try to eat pretty correctly and get exercise and fresh air and sunshine." ― Elsa Bailey, first time skier at age 100

"Don't look at the calendar, just keep celebrating every day." ― Ruth Coleman, carpe diem at age 101

<Dec-12-16 DrGridlock: Q: When is a pin not a pin? A: When the piece is:
(i) not pinned to the king
and
(ii) in moving the piece threatens either mate or greater material gain than what it was pinned to. (iii) in moving the piece now defends the unit it was pinned to, such as Nf3xd4 and protects the Be2 that was behind the knight.>

'tis better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all

To err is human; to forgive divine

Too many cooks spoil the broth

Truth is stranger than fiction

Virtue is its own reward

The wages of sin is death

Walls have ears

What can't be cured must be endured

"Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do." — Pele, Brazilian soccer player
Unless your experience is unique, hard work and perseverance most often lead to success. If we're scared of hard work, we likely will have a harder time reaching success.

"People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it." — George Bernard Shaw, playwright
shawExperienced business people distinguish between pessimists and defeatists.

Pessimists are more willing to acknowledge red flags and take corrective action than optimists.

Defeatists oppose change of any kind on the grounds it might not work. In any kind of business, it's an unwelcome viewpoint.

Keep an eye out for defeatist attitudes — refuse to let them infiltrate your organization.

"I do not know anyone who has got to the top without hard work. That is the recipe. It will not always get you to the top, but should get you pretty near." — Margaret Thatcher, former Prime Minister
The recipe for success contains a lot of hard work. Sometimes it can be luck, but it's primarily hard work.

"You can't get there by bus, only by hard work and risk and by not quite knowing what you're doing. What you'll discover will be wonderful. What you'll discover will be yourself." — Alan Alda, actor We may set out on our journey to success with an idea of how we want to get there, but sometimes we need to pivot along the way.

Being okay with not knowing what your next step is and allowing yourself to simply be on the journey can be hard, but it pays off and helps us learn more about ourselves.

"I am who I am today because of the choices I made yesterday." — Eleanor Roosevelt, First Lady of the U.S.

Entrepreneurs face tough choices. One of the biggest might be quitting your existing job to run your own business.

Many entrepreneurs report making tough decisions that changed their lives for the better. Be willing to make the challenging calls and push through the difficult times.

"Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some don't turn up at all." — Sam Ewing, author

Most of us love Cinderella stories about companies that turned into overnight sensations. We love the idea of making a lot of money without working too hard, but we fail to acknowledge that overnight successes usually don't happen overnight.

"Whatever we believe about ourselves and our ability comes true for us." — Susan L. Taylor, journalist
Sometimes we base our success and progress on the success and progress that others make, but doing this can hold us back. We're better served by believing in ourselves and basing our ideas of success on ourselves because, if we believe we can, we will.

"Sometimes, you have to give up. Sometimes, knowing when to give up, when to try something else, is genius. Giving up doesn't mean stopping. Don't ever stop." — Phil Knight, co-founder of Nike What do you do when it's time to change course because the concept you're pursuing isn't working?

It's O.K. to acknowledge that something isn't working. Keep moving, whichever direction you choose.

"If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants." — Isaac Newton, mathematician, physicist, and author By leveraging the work of major thinkers before him, Newton was able to make even more intellectual progress. In this way, success is a collaborative effort. What can you learn from others?

"The only thing standing between you and outrageous success is continuous progress." — Dan Waldschmidt, business strategist Very often, we fail to act on an idea or a concept because it isn't perfect. We fail to realize that "imperfectly done is better than perfectly planned." While it's good to do your best work, it's worthless to allow the fear of imperfection to paralyze you.

"I'm a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have of it." — Thomas Jefferson, American Founding Father Think of luck as an opportunity. We all have access to it. Humble people capitalize on luck because they remain open to help from others. Their willingness to admit vulnerability invites others to engage with them.

Be vulnerable enough to admit you don't have all the answers. Seize opportunities when they appear and you'll likely find that success will follow.

"If you really look closely, most overnight successes took a long time." — Steve Jobs, co-Founder of Apple Inc.

Oftentimes the media shows us depictions of success that make it seem effortless, like it happened overnight.

Few of these success stories actually happen overnight, save for freak occurrences.

Instead, success stories come along after periods of significant work. Maybe success did come all at once, but there was likely a period of hard work, a tipping point, and then success happened quickly.

"Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible." ― Tony Robbins, American author, and speaker

It can sometimes seem intimidating to set goals if we don't know how to achieve them, but goals can help illuminate the path to success as they bring a sense of direction and, when achieved, confirm that we're on the right path.

"On any given Monday I am one sale closer and one idea away from being a millionaire." — Larry D. Turner

Florence Chadwick set out to swim from Catalina Island to the coast of California in 1952. After swimming for 15 hours, she was physically and emotionally exhausted. She asked to be taken from the water.

Chadwick didn't know that she was less than a mile away from her goal, but fog obscured the shoreline and she didn't realize how close she was.

When you can't see the shoreline, keep working. You're likely closer than you think.

"Talent is cheaper than table salt. What separates the talented individual from the successful one is a lot of hard work." — Stephen King, author Combining natural talent and hard work most often leads to success, or at least more often than simply relying on talent and nothing else.

"Impossible is just an opinion." — Paulo Coelho, Brazilian lyricist, and novelist

"Hard work is a prison sentence only if it does not have meaning. Once it does, it becomes the kind of thing that makes you grab your wife around the waist and dance a jig." — Malcolm Gladwell, journalist, speaker, and author When hard work is driven by passion, it's easier to push through hard times with determination and optimism.

"He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life." — Muhammad Ali, Black professional boxer and activist famous hard work quotes

Your definition of success is determined by your own individual goals. However, what always holds true is that achieving success involves taking risks. Place yourself out of your comfort zone and discover the benefits it can bring.

"There are no traffic jams on the extra mile." — Zig Ziglar, author, and motivational speaker Endurance runner Calum Neff learned a fellow runner was stranded in a flooding house during Hurricane Harvey. The runner had a broken leg and children to care for, so Neff rushed over with a raft and a truck and rescued them.

Neff then set up a command post and organized nearby rescue efforts and resources. Ultimately, his team rescued 600 families from the floodwaters.

Be willing to do extra work — even if it doesn't benefit you. Few people do it, so you'll set yourself apart from the crowd.

"All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them." — Walt Disney, founder of Walt Disney World
Doing hard things requires courage. But, having the courage to do hard things can make our dreams come true and bring the success we desire.

Consider yourself courageous for doing hard things every single day.

"The greater the difficulty, the more the glory in surmounting it." ― Epicurus, Greek philosopher
Doing hard things can make us want to give up, but sometimes doing hard things can make achieving our goals feel better, as we know we've put in hard work to get there.

"You are your greatest asset. Put your time, effort and money into training." — Tom Hopkins, sales leader
People are your greatest resource. You spend money to recruit, hire, and onboard new candidates — but you shouldn't stop there.

Training helps your employees improve and gain confidence. It increases job satisfaction and elevates your company's reputation among customers and potential employees.

Cut costs where you must but refuse to sacrifice training for your team.

"There will be obstacles. There will be doubters. There will be mistakes. But with hard work, there are no limits." — Michael Phelps, Olympic swimmer Our tendency toward instant gratification sometimes undermines our best efforts.

Colonel Harland Sanders was old enough to retire when he landed a deal to sell his chicken for a nickel a piece. He then franchised his chicken idea and eventually sold the franchise for $2 million.

Legend claims he was rejected 1,009 times before he found success. Sanders' restaurant career started when he was 40, and more than 20 years passed before he found financial success.

Do not impose limits on yourself.

"I can say the willingness to get dirty has always defined us as a nation, and it's a hallmark of hard work and a hallmark of fun, and dirt is not the enemy." — Mike Rowe, actor, and producer
Perhaps we've become too comfortable in our jobs and less confident in our own abilities. Don't be afraid to get dirty.

"It's hard to beat a person who never gives up." — Babe Ruth, former professional baseball player The path to success can make us feel as though we're being beaten, especially if the path comes with failures.

In reality, the only thing that can have us beat is giving up. We can stand to learn something from our failures, and when we don't give up, they instead become stepping stones to future success.

"Do or do not. There is no try." — Yoda
Yoda offers his blunt, but effective wisdom to Luke Skywalker in response to Skywalker saying "I'll try." To achieve goals, people have to take the plunge and fully commit.

"Doing the best at this moment puts you in the best place for the next moment." — Oprah Winfrey, media mogul Sometimes doing the best we can, even if not perfect, is what sets us up for success in our next venture.

"I've missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed." — Michael Jordan, Black professional basketball player Michael Jordan is a basketball player, well known throughout his career for being a successful shooting guard.

However, even though he achieved success, it still came along with missed shots and lost games — which he credits as the reasons why he succeeded.

"There is no royal flower-strewn path to success. And if there is, I have not found it, for whatever success I have attained has been the result of much hard work and many sleepless nights." — Madam C.J. Walker, Black entrepreneur, philanthropist, and activist The road to success isn't a diamond-pleated catwalk, despite how nice that would be. It requires hard work, and sometimes sleepless nights.

"If something is important enough, even if the odds are against you, you should still do it." — Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX

Entrepreneurship is important. Entrepreneurs create new businesses, introduce new jobs, develop communities, and start social change. Smartphones, for example, have revolutionized the world economy.

They've even spread to countries not considered wealthy by world standards. And they've empowered entrepreneurs in underdeveloped countries to wade into the marketplace.

Never stop doing important work.

"The fight is won or lost far away from witnesses — behind the lines, in the gym, and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights." — Muhammad Ali, Black professional boxer and activist Every conversation has the potential to be a career-changing opportunity. No matter what industry you're in, there are likely parts of your process you don't enjoy.

It's easy to motivate yourself to work hard on the parts of your job that naturally lend themselves to a payday. It's also easy to forget the less-important parts of your job also contribute to your organization's earning potential.

Don't overlook the behind-the-scenes work in pursuit of the high-profile stuff. It's all-important.

"If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant. If we did not sometimes taste adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome." — Josh Billings, humorist

Over time, many entrepreneurs find their passion for the business fades. Long hours, demanding schedules, and work-life imbalance likely contribute to a sense of loss.

Expect your passion to wane, but don't ignore the situation. The moments of doubt will make you appreciate the moments of unbridled joy even more.

"We need to accept that we won't always make the right decisions, that we'll screw up royally sometimes – understanding that failure is not the opposite of success, it's part of success." — Arianna Huffington, author, and co-founder of The Huffington Post Sometimes we work really hard at something and find that we've made a wrong decision. It's disheartening, but it's not the end of the world. As Huffington says, we should view wrong decisions and failures as key pillars of our journey towards making the right decisions.

"Obstacles can't stop you. Problems can't stop you. Most of all, other people can't stop you. Only you can stop you." — Jeffrey Gitomer, author, speaker, and business trainer

Most of us are painfully unaware of the self-limiting thoughts we harbor. Once we adopt a negative belief about ourselves, we tend to ignore evidence that it's incorrect and embrace evidence that suggests it's true. In other words, we double down on negative thoughts.

When you identify a self-limiting thought, use the "Five Whys" practice to drill down to the source of the belief. Refuse to be your own worst enemy.

"Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it." — Charles R. Swindoll, author and educator
The path towards success is never a straight shot. But with the right attitude, you can overcome any misstep or obstacle. Attitude, then, is greater than failure or circumstance.

"Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time." — Thomas Edison, inventor

Anyone can be patient and understanding when things are going well and life is good. But when adversity comes knocking, our true character is tested. Don't let obstacles knock the wind out of your sail or cause you to sink into negative thinking.

"Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can." — Arthur Ashe, tennis player
When Arthur Ashe first picked up a tennis racket at seven, do you think he was ready to win a Grand Slam? Not quite. In fact, due to his slight build, his childhood nicknames were "Skinny" and "Bones."

So how did he win his first Grand Slam 18 years later? Most notably, he was willing to be a beginner. After all, it's often the doing that is more important than the outcome.

By fine-tuning his craft — and learning hard lessons about composure and perseverance along the way — he became one of the most prominent tennis figures of his generation.

"Never be limited by other people's limited imaginations." — Dr. Mae Jemison, first Black female astronaut The work you do should be based on you and how you want to be successful. Don't quantify your abilities based on what others do — set your own limits and expectations, and go from there.

"Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all." — Dale Carnegie, author, and lecturer
A recent study by Statistic Brain revealed 50% of U.S. companies fail after five years and 70% fail after 10 years.

Why do some businesses succeed while others fail? Successful companies have leaders who stay the course despite struggles — leaders who value patience and persistence.

"You're not obligated to win. You're obligated to keep trying to do the best you can every day." — Marian Wright Edelman, Black activist for children's rights Consider this: we're not always obligated to win. Instead, we should feel like we're succeeding based on the fact that we get up every day and do the best we can do.

"Success isn't always about greatness. It's about consistency. Consistent hard work leads to success. Greatness will come." — Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, actor Consistency allows you to measure your progress. It allows you to create accountability and spread your message.

Don't give up on an idea or a process before you've had time to practice it consistently. Many entrepreneurs allow six months to determine whether a concept is effective.

Pursue consistency before greatness.

"The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph." — Thomas Paine, American Founding Father
Conflict occurs when you employ different people with unique personalities and ideas. Contrary to popular belief, it doesn't have to be bad.

When you address conflict, you help people feel as though their concerns are heard. Consensus increases, communication improves, and relationships grow. Don't avoid conflict. Address it quickly and fairly to see its benefits.

"Success is not final; failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts." — Winston S. Churchill, former Prime Minister

Success doesn't have to be our final stage. We can always continue innovating, learning, and discovering new things, but this takes courage, whether you've experienced failure or already succeeded.

"When you do more than you' paid for, eventually you'll be paid for more than you do." — Zig Ziglar, author and motivational speaker A baseball coach I know once told his players to "always be looking for work." Never stand flat-footed while the ball is in play. Instead, find a way to contribute to the team.

Create a culture that encourages people to prioritize team success. When someone else has a good idea, do everything you can to promote and support it. Seek ways to contribute to the concept even if it isn't your responsibility.

Your leadership will appreciate your initiative. And your coworkers will likely respond in kind when it's your project.

"The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary." — Vidal Sassoon, hairdressing business tycoon
Goals don't self-actualize on their own. Entrepreneurs have to work hard to achieve their success — unless you're living in a dictionary.

"If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven played music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, `Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well." — Martin Luther King, Jr., Black Baptist minister and activist

"I have seen two geniuses in my time. One was Tal. The other was Fischer." ― Russian GM Yuri Averbakh

<Shakespearean Puns
Perhaps no writer is better known for the use of puns than William Shakespeare. He plays with "tide" and "tied" in Two Gentlemen of Verona:

"Panthino
Away, ass! You'll lose the tide if you tarry any longer.

Launce
It is no matter if the tied were lost; for it is the unkindest tied that ever any man tied.

Panthino
What's the unkindest tide?

Launce
Why, he that's tied here, Crab, my dog."

In the opening of Richard III, the sun refers to the blazing sun on Edward IV's banner and the fact that he is the son of the Duke of York:

"Now is the winter of our discontent
Made glorious summer by this sun of York."

In this line from Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare plays on the different meanings of heavy (which also means sad) and light:

"Give me a torch: I am not for this ambling; Being but heavy I will bear the light."

Later in Romeo and Juliet, a morbid pun comes from a fatally-stabbed Mercutio, where grave means serious, but also alludes to his imminent death:

"Ask for me tomorrow, you shall find me a grave man."

If you open any Shakesperean play, you're likely to find at least one pun on the page! Keep an eye out for a clever play on words example the next time you read Hamlet or watch As You Like It on the stage.>

CAISSA
or The Game at Chess; a Poem.
(written in the year 1763, by Sir William Jones)

(pronounced ky-eé-sah)

Of armies on the chequer'd field array'd,

And guiltless war in pleasing form display'd;

When two bold kings contend with vain alarms,

In ivory this, and that in ebon arms;

Sing, sportive maids, that haunt the sacred hill

Of Pindus, and the fam'd Pierian rill.

Thou, joy of all below, and all above,

Mild Venus, queen of laughter, queen of love;

Leave thy bright island, where on many a rose

And many a pink thy blooming train repose:

Assist me, goddess! since a lovely pair

Command my song, like thee devinely fair.

Near yon cool stream, whose living waters play,

And rise translucent in the solar ray;

Beneath the covert of a fragrant bower,

Where spring's nymphs reclin'd in calm retreat,

And envying blossoms crouded round their seat;

Here Delia was enthron'd, and by her side

The sweet Sirena, both in beauty's pride:

Thus shine two roses, fresh with early bloom,

That from their native stalk dispense perfume;

Their leaves unfolding to the dawning day

Gems of the glowing mead, and eyes of May.

A band of youths and damsels sat around,

Their flowing locks with braided myrtle bound;

Agatis, in the graceful dance admir'd,

And gentle Thyrsis, by the muse inspir'd;

With Sylvia, fairest of the mirthful train;

And Daphnis, doom'd to love, yet love in vain.

Now, whilst a purer blush o'erspreads her cheeks,

With soothing accents thus Sirena speaks:

"The meads and lawns are ting'd with beamy light,

And wakeful larks begin their vocal flight;

Whilst on each bank the dewdrops sweetly smile;

What sport, my Delia, shall the hours beguile?

Whall heavenly notes, prolong'd with various art,

Charm the fond ear, and warm the rapturous heart?

At distance shall we view the sylvan chace?

Or catch with silken lines the finny race?"

Then Delia thus: "Or rather, since we meet

By chance assembled in this cool retreat,

In artful contest let our warlike train

Move well-directed o'er the field preside:

No prize we need, our ardour to inflame;

We fight with pleasure, if we fight for fame."

The nymph consents: the maids and youths prepare

To view the combat, and the sport to share:

But Daphnis most approv'd the bold design,

Whom Love instructed, and the tuneful Nine.

He rose, and on the cedar table plac'd

A polish'd board, with differing colours grac'd;

Squares eight times eight in equal order lie;

These bright as snow, those dark with sable dye;

Like the broad target by the tortoise born,

Or like the hide by spotted panthers worn.

Then from a chest, with harmless heroes stor'd,

O'er the smooth plain two well-wrought hosts he pour'd;

The champions burn'd their rivals to assail,

Twice eight in black, twice eight in milkwhite mail;

In shape and station different, as in name,

Their motions various, not their power the same.

Say, muse! (for Jove has nought from thee conceal'd)

Who form'd the legions on the level field?

High in the midst the reverend kings appear,

And o'er the rest their pearly scepters rear:

One solemn step, majestically slow,

They gravely move, and shun the dangerous foe;

If e'er they call, the watchful subjects spring,

And die with rapture if they save their king;

On him the glory of the day depends,

He once imprison'd, all the conflict ends.

The queens exulting near their consorts stand;

Each bears a deadly falchion in her hand;

Now here, now there, they bound with furious pride,

And thin the trmbling ranks from side to side;

Swift as Camilla flying o'er the main,

Or lightly skimming o'er the dewy plain:

Fierce as they seem, some bold Plebeian spear

May pierce their shield, or stop their full career.

The valiant guards, their minds on havock bent,

Fill the next squares, and watch the royal tent;

Tho' weak their spears, tho' dwarfish be their height,

Compact they move, the bulwark of the fight,

To right and left the martial wings display

Their shining arms, and stand in close array.

Behold, four archers, eager to advance,

Send the light reed, and rush with sidelong glance;

Through angles ever they assault the foes,

True to the colour, which at first they chose.

Then four bold knights for courage-fam'd and speed,

Each knight exalted on a prancing steed:

Their arching course no vulgar limit knows,

Tranverse they leap, and aim insidious blows:

Nor friends, nor foes, their rapid force restrain,

By on quick bound two changing squares they gain;

From varing hues renew the fierce attack,

And rush from black to white, from white to black.

Four solemn elephants the sides defend;

Benearth the load of ponderous towers they bend:

In on unalter'd line they tempt the fight;

Now crush the left, and now o'erwhelm the right.

Bright in the front the dauntless soldiers raise

Their polish'd spears; their steely helmets blaze:

Prepar'd they stand the daring foe to strike,

Direct their progress, but their wounds oblique.

Now swell th' embattled troups with hostile rage,

And clang their shields, impatient to engage;

When Daphnis thus: A varied plain behold,

Where fairy kings their mimick tents unfold,

As Oberon, and Mab, his wayward queen,

Lead forth their armies on the daisied green.

No mortal hand the wond'rous sport contriv'd,

By gods invents, and from gods deriv'd;

From them the British nymphs receiv'd the game,

And play ech morn beneath the crystal Thame;

Hear then the tale, which they to Colin sung,

As idling o'er the lucid wave he hung.

A lovely dryad rang'd the Thracian wild,

Her air enchanting, and her aspect mild:

To chase the bounding hart was all her joy,

Averse from Hymen, and the Cyprian boy;

O'er hills an valleys was her beauty fam'd,

And fair Caissa was the damsel nam'd.

Mars saw the maid; with deep surprize he gaz'd,

Admir'd her shape, and every gesture prais'd:

His golden bow the child of Venus bent,

And through his breast a piecing arrow sent.

The reed was hope; the feathers, keen desire;

The point, her eyes; the barbs, ethereal fire.

Soon to the nymph he pour'd his tender strain;

The haughtly dryad scorn'd his amorous pain:

He told his woes, where'er the maid he found,

And still he press'd, yet still Caissa frown'd;

But ev'n her frowns (ah, what might smiles have done!)

Fir'd all his soul, and all his senses won.

He left his car, by raging tigers drawn,

And lonely wander'd o'er the dusky lawn;

Then lay desponding near a murmuring stream,

And fair Caissa was his plaintive theme.

A naiad heard him from her mossy bed,

And through the crystal rais'd her placid head;

Then mildly spake: "O thou, whom love inspires,

Thy tears will nourish, not allay thy fires.

The smiling blossoms drink the pearly dew;

And ripening fruit the feather'd race pursue;

The scaly shoals devour the silken weeds;

Love on our sighs, and on our sorrow feeds.

Then weep no more; but, ere thou canst obtain

Balm to thy wounds, and solace to thy pain,

With gentle art thy martial look beguile;

Be mild, and teach thy rugged brow to smile.

Canst thou no play, no soothing game devise;

To make thee lovely in the damsel's eyes?

So may thy prayers assuage the scornful dame,

And ev'n Caissa own a mutual frame."

Kind nymph, said Mars, thy counsel I approve;

Art, only art, her ruthless breast can move.

but when? or how? They dark discourse explain:

So may thy stream ne'er swell with gushing rain;

So may thy waves in one pure current flow,

And flowers eternal on thy border blow!"

To whom the maid replied with smiling mien:

"Above the palace of the Paphian queen

Love's brother dwells, a boy of graceful port,

By gods nam'd Euphron, and by mortals Sport:

Seek him; to faithful ears unfold thy grief,

And hope, ere morn return, a sweet relief.

His temple hangs below the azure skies;

Seest thou yon argent cloud? 'Tis there it lies."

This said, she sunk beneath the liquid plain,

And sought the mansion of her blue-hair'd train.

Meantime the god, elate with heart-felt joy,

Had reach'd the temple of the sportful boy;

He told Caissa's charms, his kindled fire,

The naiad's counsel, and his warm desire.

"Be swift, he added, give my passion aid;

A god requests." - He spake, and Sport obey'd.

He fram'd a tablet of celestial mold,

Inlay'd with squares of silver and of gold;

Then of two metals form'd the warlike band,

That here compact in show of battle stand;

He taught the rules that guide the pensive game,

And call'd it Cassa from the dryad's name:

(Whence Albion's sons, who most its praise confess,

Approv'd the play, and nam'd it thoughtful Chess.)

The god delighted thank'd indulgent Sport;

Then grasp'd the board, and left his airy court.

With radiant feet he pierc'd the clouds; nor stay'd,

Till in the woods he saw the beauteous maid:

Tir'd with the chase the damsel set reclin'd,

Her girdle loose, her bosom unconfin'd.

He took the figure of a wanton faun,

And stood before her on the flowery lawn;

Then show'd his tablet: pleas'd the nymph survey'd

The lifeless troops in glittering ranks display'd;

She ask'd the wily sylvan to explain

The various motions of the splendid train;

With eager heart she caught the winning lore,

And thought ev'n Mars less hateful than before;

"What spell," said she, "deceiv'd my careless mind?

The god was fair, and I was most unkind."

She spoke, and saw the changing faun assume

A milder aspect, and a fairer bloom;

His wreathing horns, that from his temples grew,

Flow'd down in curls of bright celestial hue;

The dappled hairs, that veil'd his loveless face,

Blaz'd into beams, and show'd a heavenly grace;

The shaggy hide, that mantled o'er his breast,

Was soften'd to a smooth transparent vest,

That through its folds his vigorous bosom show'd,

And nervous limbs, where youthful ardour glow'd:

(Had Venus view'd him in those blooming charms,

Not Vulcan's net had forc'd her from his arms.)

With goatlike feet no more he mark'd the ground,

But braided flowers his silken sandals bound.

The dryad blush'd; and, as he press'd her, smil'd,

Whilst all his cares one tender glance beguil'd.

He ends: To arms, the maids and striplings cry;

To arms, the groves and sounding vales reply.

Sirena led to war the swarthy crew,

And Delia those that bore the lily's hue.

Who first, O muse, began the bold attack;

The white refulgent, or the mournful black?

Fair Delia first, as favoring lots ordain,

Moves her pale legions tow'rd the sable train:

From thought to thought her lively fancy flies,

Whilst o'er the board she darts her sparkling eyes.

At length the warrior moves with haughty strides;

Who from the plain the snowy king divides:

With equal haste his swarthy rival bounds;

His quiver rattles, and his buckler sounds:

Ah! hapless youths, with fatal warmth you burn;

Laws, ever fix'd, forbid you to return.

then from the wing a short-liv'd spearman flies,

Unsafely bold, and see! he dies, he dies:

The dark-brow'd hero, with one vengeful blow

Of life and place deprives his ivory foe.

Now rush both armies o'er the burnish'd field,

Hurl the swift dart, and rend the bursting shield.

Here furious knights on fiery coursers prance,

but see! the white-rob'd Amazon beholds

Where the dark host its opening van unfolds:

Soon as her eye discerns the hostile maid,

By ebon shield, and ebon helm betray'd;

Seven squares she passed with majestic mien,

And stands triumphant o'er the falling queen.

Perplex'd, and sorrowing at his consort's fate,

The monarch burn'd with rage, despair, and hate:

Swift from his zone th' avenging blade he drew,

And, mad with ire, the proud virago slew.

Meanwhile sweet smiling Delia's wary king

Retir'd from fight behind the circling wing.

Long time the war in equal balance hung;

Till, unforseen, an ivory courser sprung,

And, wildly prancing in an evil hour,

Attack'd at once the monarch and the tower:

Sirena blush'd; for, as the rules requir'd,

Her injur'd sovereign to his tent retir'd;

Whilst her lost castle leaves his threatening height,

And adds new glory to th' exulting knight.

At this, pale fear oppress'd the drooping maid,

And on her cheek the rose began to fade:

A crystal tear, that stood prepar'd to fall,

She wip'd in silence, and conceal'd from all;

From all but Daphnis; He remark'd her pain,

And saw the weakness of her ebon train;

Then gently spoke: "Let me your loss supply,

And either nobly win, or nobly dir;

Me oft has fortune crown'd with fair success,

And led to triumph in the fields of Chess."

He said: the willing nymph her place resign'd,

And sat at distance on the bank reclin'd.

Thus when Minerva call'd her chief to arms,

And Troy's high turret shook with dire alarms,

The Cyprian goddess wounded left the plain,

And Mars engag'd a mightier force in vain.

Strait Daphnis leads his squadron to the field;

(To Delia's arms 'tis ev'n a joy to yield.)

Each guileful snare, and subtle art he tries,

But finds his heart less powerful than her eyes:

Wisdom and strength superior charms obey;

And beauty, beauty, wins the long-fought day.

By this a hoary chief, on slaughter bent,

Approach'd the gloomy king's unguarded tent;

Where, late, his consort spread dismay around,

Now her dark corse lies bleeding on the ground.

Hail, happy youth! they glories not unsung

Shall live eternal on the poet's tongue;

For thou shalt soon receive a splendid change,

And o'er the plain with nobler fury range.

The swarthy leaders saw the storm impend,

And strove in vain their sovereign to defend:

Th' invader wav'd his silver lance in air,

And flew like lightning to the fatal square;

His limbs dilated in a moment grew

To stately height, and widen'd to the view;

More fierce his look, more lion-like his mien,

Sublime he mov'd, and seem'd a warrior queen.

As when the sage on some unfolding plant

Has caught a wandering fly, or frugal ant,

His hand the microscopic frame applies,

And lo! a bright hair'd monster meets his eyes;

He sees new plumes in slender cases roll'd;

Here stain'd with azure, there bedropp'd with gold;

Thus, on the alter'd chief both armies gaze,

And both the kings are fix'd with deep amaze.

The sword, which arm'd the snow-white maid before,

He noew assumes, and hurls the spear no more;

The springs indignant on the dark-rob'd band,

And knights and archers feel his deadly hand.

Now flies the monarch of the sable shield,

His legions vanquish'd, o'er the lonely field:

So when the morn, by rosy coursers drawn,

With pearls and rubies sows the verdant lawn,

Whilst each pale star from heaven's blue vault retires,

Still Venus gleams, and last of all expires.

He hears, where'er he moves, the dreadful sound;

Check the deep vales, and Check the woods rebound.

No place remains: he sees the certain fate,

And yields his throne to ruin, and Checkmate.

A brighter blush o'erspreads the damsel's cheeks,

And mildly thus the conquer'd stripling speaks:

"A double triumph, Delia, hast thou won,

By Mars protected, and by Venus' son;

The first with conquest crowns thy matchless art,

The second points those eyes at Daphnis' heart."

She smil'd; the nymphs and amorous youths arise,

And own that beauty gain'd the nobler prize.

Low in their chest the mimic troops were lay'd,

And peaceful slept the sable hero's shade.

Red means stop.
The truth hurts.

"If a disciple is old,
a master should be mature.
If a disciple is young,
a master should be accessible.
If a disciple is brave,
a master should be fearless.
If a disciple is shrewd,
a master should be wise.
If a disciple is strong,
a master should be powerful.
If a disciple is learned,
a master should be enlightened.

If a disciple is contented,
a master should be joyful.
If a disciple is faithful,
a master should be devoted.
If a disciple is tolerant,
a master should be peaceful.
If a disciple is intro inspective,
a master should be self-aware.
If a disciple is focused,
a master should be determined.
If a disciple is exceptional,
a master should be perfect."
― Matshona Dhliwayo

comment by C.J.S. Purdy on page 34 of the February 1960 Chess World:

‘Zugzwang just doesn't happen in a middle-game. There is a win by Nimzowitsch against Sämisch in the middle-game which one annotator has called a "Zugzwang" finish. It is true that any move by Sämisch loses, but he would lose just as surely if his opponent had to move. It is not the compulsion to move that hurts him; his position is lost anyway. So it is no more Zugzwang than any other resignable position.'

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